PHUKET: Little more than half of eligible voters in Phuket turned out to cast their ballots in the referendum yesterday (Aug 7), but those who did voted in support of the draft constitution and to allow the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to select all 250 members of the Senate, who will be able to vote with elected MPs to choose the prime minister.

According to unofficial results posted at Saphan Hin last night, only 150,326 of Phuket’s 274,407 eligible voters turned out to cast their votes in the referendum

The turnout of only 54.78 per cent was a huge shortfall on the 80% turnout hoped for, but only 3% short of the national average. (See story here.)

All votes cast for Phuket were counted last night, with 3,181 spoiled ballots reducing the number of countable votes 147,819. Of those, 88.03% agreed to introduce the draft constitution, and 85.59% agreed to allow the NCPO to select the entire Senate, who will be able to vote with elected MPs to choose the prime minister.

A total of 370 polling stations were set up throughout Phuket, with 209 in Phuket Town, 98 in Thalang and 63 in Kathu, as well as polling stations on islands within Phuket’s administrative jurisdiction, such as Koh Lone, Koh Maphrao and Naka Island.

The results posted by referendum officials at Saphan Hin were as follows:

Question 1

(Agree or disagree to introduce draft constitution)

Phuket City: Agree - 73,249; Disagree - 9,315.

Kathu: Agree - 16,082; Disagree - 2,655.

Thalang: Agree - 34,335; Disagree - 4,621.

Total votes cast in Phuket: Agree - 123,666; Disagree - 16,591.

Phuket votes cast from outside Phuket: Agree - 1,977; Disagree 490.

Total (all votes counted): Agree - 125,643; Disagree 17,081

Question 2

(Whether or not to allow the NCPO to select all 250 members of the Senate, who will be able to vote with elected MPs to choose the prime minister.)

Phuket City: Agree - 69,330; Disagree - 10,925.

Kathu: Agree - 15,192; Disagree - 3,189.

Thalang: Agree - 32,602; Disagree - 5,293.

Total votes cast in Phuket: Agree - 117,124; Disagree - 19,407.

Phuket votes cast from outside Phuket: Agree - 1,845; Disagree - 615.

Total (all votes counted): Agree - 118,969; Disagree - 20,022.

The results at this stage are “unofficial” as they have yet to be ratified.

Phuket Governor Chamreon Tipayapongthada this morning thanked all voters who took part in the referendum.

“Thank you to everyone for coming up to vote on the constitutional referendum day, August 7,” he said.

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Christy Sweet,
Previous governments, never mind their colour, yellow or red, were democratic. I remember the illegal airport occupations, the Suthep demonstrations in BKK, complete areas illegally blocked, Parks changed illegally in camping areas. All these people who stopped working and instead got paid more to come to BKK and demonstrate. it was not Thailand best times.
Very unstable and everything was possible, undemocratic.
Now, after this referendum, Give Thailand a chance to develop a form of guided democracy.
Tier3 by USA, + the extended yellow card from Europe, it was all a reaction on failures of previous 'democratic' governments.
Slave labor, illegal land occupation by monks/wats.
Smuggling of humans in horrible conditions.
There were many influential undemocratic settings in Thailand during previous democratic years.
So far, specially after this referendum, we should wait and see how the thai people like to go on after the referendum.
One thing is for sure, the thai people do not want the corrupt ex politicians and their influential criminal families back in power.
We have to wait in patient and see how the thai people guide themselves to a better future, specially for the middle class and lower class.
Should there be social classes in a democratic society?

Christy Sweet| 09 August 2016 - 20:23:21

Looks like democracy was just voted out.

Kurt| 08 August 2016 - 13:27:19

The turn out of 54% instead of the 80% expected is not surprising.
Thai friends on Phuket said: we can not vote here, only in Roi et, in Sukhothai, in BKK, etc.
There is a enormous amount of thai working on Phuket, but seem not to be registered on Phuket.
Phuket authorities have no clue how many thai are living/working on Phuket.
The number of doctors working in government hospitals is based on the official registered thai population on Phuket.
However, there are many, many more thai on Phuket.
That is why Phuket has not enough doctors in Phuket government hospitals.
That is why daily enormous amount of thai and tourist patients have to wait such a long time in government hospital halls before a doctor can see them.
Anyway, up to the next step to get things working in Thailand, as the thai people hope for.